Where Islam spreads, freedom dies

The mosque
in Graz should now be built up one year earlier than initially planned. This is
to be made possible through a generous donation which amounts to half a million
Euros. A total amount of 3 million euros are needed for its construction.

The building of the mosque and also the Islamic
cultural center belonging to it, which is taking place in the Herrgottwiesgasse/Laubgasse
area (in Graz), is financed exclusively through donations. The mosque alone
will cost some 3 million euros, and together with the cultural center, which
will include the administrative zone of the compound and a youth club, the
whole project will cost some 10 million euros.

A fifth of this amount could already be gathered.
A huge donation made this year by a businessman from the Emirates came as a
surprise, Aldin Bektas, the spokesman for the Islamic cultural center
explained. “The huge donation amounted to half a million euros. Till now only
half of this amount has been transferred, and after the financial donor has
made sure that the money will be spent on the mosque, and not in any other project,
the rest of the money will also be sent".

This will make possible that the mosque be fully built up
in summer next year, that is, one year earlier than initially planned, Bektas
happily explained. For the mosque is now the most important issue. "Some 400-500
individuals could come for the Friday prayers, and now the actual place is bursting at all its seams. By now some
members have to perform the Friday prayers at the outside, therefore the mosque
is the number one priority, because we really need the place".

It is still not clear when will the whole project
be finished. One must now hope for more generous donations. The money can be
basically sent from all over the world, but the biggest share of the donations
comes from Muslims living in Austria and Graz, but also from Germany or Bosnia,
Bektas explained.